Okay, finally back in the game. Seriously, I can say thanks enough to Row80 for existing to keep me on task for accomplishing things. I think I would fall into super lazy mode otherwise. I think it’s just this time of the year. Too cold to ride my bike and skiing is snow dependent. 😉

THE GOALS

I haven’t yet stated my Row80 goals, so here they be, whether overly ambitious or not, I’m still gonna give it a go.

Outline the rest of Codename Clemmings. I need to turn this novelette into a novel. I think it has great potential, but originally I only saw it as a novelette, so it’s been doing nothing after 5 chapters. I’ve had some vague ideas, but I haven’t really put in the effort. Time to make it so.

Finish “The Fire in Fiction” and read two fiction books. I don’t know why TFIF just wasn’t happening for me, but that’s what another Row80 is for. I also have a few unread books on my Kindle for the fiction option I should be able to cram in. Last time I got three fiction books in with a goal of one, so certainly I can make two.

Write Codename Clemmings. I want to get a first draft off. Preferably a semi-edited draft, but a full draft in some form. I think this is possible considering I’ve already got the first 5 chapters and this is a YA.

Do writing exercises at least once a week. I got a few writing exercises from a forum at a conference and I believe they’ve already strengthened my writing with what little I’ve used them. I want every story I write to be even better than the last one and I want my skill to continuously improve. I never want to become one of those writers that gets lazy just because they’ve made it. I want my readers to keep coming back because they know I’m putting in my best efforts for them and for it to show. That takes practice. So writing exercises. Once a week. Yep.

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Get five chapters in to my Codename BFF project. If I’m hoping to accomplish the above goals, this may not be possible, but that’s why they’re BONUS goals. 😉

#2 Plot out a screenplay. This is really shooting for the moon here, but just a plot session might be possible. I did major in film in school and this short series project keeps coming to my mind. Plus I have friends in the independent biz and if it turns out clever I might be able to get them interested. But can’t do any of that without getting the idea out first, right?

Okay, go ambition, go! Still, remembering what I accomplished last session I think many of these things are possible. How are you coming on your goals already? Or have you also just started with new ones?

At my writers group party, the spudnuts were a big hit. But I must say, having tried them both ways, they are much better fresh out of the fryer.

And speaking of Christmas type events, last Sunday I attended one of Salt Lake’s biggest yearly events. It’s the hottest ticket in town, and it’s free—the trouble is can you get tickets. Often if you live out of town it’s easier, but as a local it’s anyone’s guess.

What is this event? Why it’s the annual Christmas concert put on by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and whatever guests they host that year. It’s usually a musically talented guest and someone brought as a narrating type. This year I knew I had to attend because who could miss out on seeing this?

Yep. That’s Big Bird conducting the orchestra and choir. Big Bird! This year’s guests were Santino Fontana (of Frozen fame) and the Sesame Street Muppets. Usually the age limit for this is 8 yrs old and up, but this year they dropped it to 5 and the kids giggled with delight whenever the Muppets were out.

It was probably one of their best shows I’d seen yet. It will be broadcast on PBS, but not until next year. However at the bottom of my post, I’ll embed a highlights video.

THE GOALS

Read “The Fire in Fiction” and one fiction book.Progress! I did read a little more The Fire in Fiction, but I also read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. Where did that randomly come from? Well, I was watching Scrooge, the Albert Finney version and something in that reminded me of what someone had told me about The Great Divorce. Since it’s a pretty short read (about 100 pages in the version I have) I polished it off in a few hours. Fantastic little read if you’re interested in Christian theology. Not to say it’s authoritative or anything, just something intellectual to consider.

So now that I’ve gotten three fiction books read I really, really need to make better progress on TFIF. Hopefully next week I will have finished it, or nearly finished. I believe next week is the last week for this session of Row80.

Rework Book 2. ACCOMPLISHED. I sent off the first chapter to my writers group. As always, they had some good suggestions. It’s interesting how we writers tend to be fairly myopic about our own work, but can see easily see the holes in someone else’s work. That’s why it’s good to have a group to go to or some beta readers you can count on.

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Write at least one short story. No new progress.

#2 Do further plotting for Codename Clemmings. No new progress. I’m not sure if I’ll do the other project or continue working on this or polish up the first chapter of Book 2 more. I guess it’s good a new session of Row80 is coming up so I can make new goals to be accomplished. I’m still glad with the progress I’ve made overall.

Now that we’re in the home stretch of Row80, will you get all your goals accomplished? Have you found feedback to be invaluable to improving your writing?

I have an upcoming writers group party and thought I’d test out making spudnuts before the actual event.

What are spudnuts you asked? Well, having grown up Idahoan and still strongly claiming those roots, spudnuts are potato-infused donuts. Yep, there be potatoes in them thar donuts. But no, it’s not like bumping into french fries while eating a donut. If you’ve had potato rolls before, you get the idea. It just makes them that much more delicious. And for an Idahoan, yet another useful recipe involving our state’s beloved product.

Speaking of upcoming writers group party, Ms NYT BS has hinted to be there. She wasn’t at the last writers group meeting so we’ll see if anymore of the drama unfolds then. Seems like a Christmas party would be the time for it to happen. We’ll see.

THE GOALS

Now that you’re sufficiently hungry, how about that Row80? It seems to be coming along nicely.

Finish outlining Book 2. ACCOMPLISHED.

Read “The Fire in Fiction” and one fiction book.Progress! Still have not read much more of The Fire in Fiction but I am working on What Happened to Goodbye and one other fiction. The other fiction, which shall remain nameless, I’m not sure I’ll get through. It’s sort of an obligatory read and it’s definitely not my type of book. Think academic literary fiction. (No disses on those who like this kind of fiction, I’m just not into it—hence YA fiction writer).

The previous, WHTG, has more a literary feel to it, too. To be honest, I had no idea what the book was going to be about going into it. I just read your blogs and when you recommend books that sound interesting, I throw the name onto a list. And then months later that book ends up on my Kindle because THE LIST.

I mention this though *because* despite not really being sure what in the world the book would be about, it grabbed my attention in the beginning and kept me captive until I was invested enough in the story to continue on my own. It’s not the bestest book in the whole entire world, but it’s interesting. I think it’s pretty good writing to hold the interest of a random reader like me who didn’t even get a blurb (or at least remembered one).

Rework Book 2. ACCOMPLISHED. I doubt it is by any means perfect, but I finally finished this round of reworkings. I feel like it’s at a place where it can be read by beta readers without it being wasteful. Now I just have to wait on beta readers for changes, but I think it’s just fine if it takes a while. I need a break from the world I think.

Well, truth be told I’d love to jump into Book 3, but a wise friend of mine said a genre switch, even if just a short story is supremely helpful to the writing. After I got SHADE to its pitching glory I took a break and wrote Codename Clemmings (as far as I had plotted anyway). It was amazing what a difference I felt. And then when I went back to the SHADE world, I felt refreshed.

Which means Bonus Goals get to happen somewhat.

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Write at least one short story. No new progress.

#2 Do further plotting for Codename Clemmings. Progress! Hooray for bonus goals happening. I’m not 100% sure about the plot of this, but it’s coming along either way. It’s odd how if you spend so much time in one part of the process, say revising, the other parts seem a little foreign in the beginning.

Okay, so hooray for bonus goals happening. Isn’t it nice when little surprises happen like this? Although I don’t know that I’ll get to the short story writing, but one can never tell apparently.

What would you say to Ms NYT BS if you ran into her? Do you take a break from your genre once finishing a major project or do you plow into the next one? Have you ever had to read a book out of obligation? Were you able to do it?

One thing I would definitely recommend putting on your bucket list is a flight over Monument Valley down at the Utah/Arizona border. The company I did it with is out of Page, AZ. They fly over Lake Powell first (pictured above) and then take you on to Monument Valley. Worth every penny. And as you can see, you can get some pretty spectacular photos up there. This I took with a Samsung S4 (a camera phone).

THE GOALS

Read “The Fire in Fiction” and one fiction book.Progress! I have not read much more of The Fire in Fiction but I did finish Supernaturally, book two in the Paranormalcy series. It’s an easy YA read, very much aimed at teen girls, but still a lot of fun. A lot of the book is connected with faeries, and these particular ones are a lot like those found in Patrick Rothfuss fantasy books. It’s definitely piqued my interest. Perhaps one day I’ll write a story about these kinds of faeries as well.

Rework Book 2. Progress. Getting there. Getting there. I have 28-ish chapters and I’m to 18 with revisions. Although I think I could probably combine a couple of chapters. I think most of these are pretty short (like 6 pages). Anyways, been weaving in some new stuff that’s made the book a whole lot more interesting. Once I get it to a place I’m mostly satisfied with, off to beta readers with it.

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Write at least one short story. No new progress.

#2 Do further plotting for Codename Clemmings. No new progress.

Not sure the bonus goals are going to happen. But I always feel like setting goals and falling short is better than floundering around. I will definitely need a break from the SHADE world once Book 2 is finished.

I’d really like to attend another writers conference in 2015 as well. It’s been hard to plan for anything lately, but I may just sign up anyway. (They issue refunds). I like the energy and comradery that comes in being around other writers. Plus I’m always interested in getting feedback on my stuff. And there is always valuable information to be gained from forums.

Do you attend writers conferences? If not, why not? What do you find to be the most helpful to you in attending writers conferences? And how are your own personal goals coming?

Did I mention I actually saw a grizzly bear while in Yellowstone National Park? Those suckers are extremely hard to come across anymore. They used to come down to dig through the trash, but since they’ve made the bear-proof bins, sightings are much rarer. Not that I’m opposed to keeping bears away from the trash (and close proximity to kids).

This bear was really close, but thankfully there was a substantially sized river between us and it. I was ready to shove my people back on the bus if it even got close to the water. But I constantly see other tourists being less than smart when it comes to wild animals. They just want to pet the bear, or the bison, or the coyote. Say what? Wild animals will eat you on a whim? 😛

THE GOALS

Read “The Fire in Fiction” and one fiction book.Progress! I went to a business conference which was mostly interesting, but in those few instances where the speaker wasn’t doing it for me, I pulled out this little book and gave it a read. I also had some time on a bus lately, so I got through a couple of chapters. It’s really helpful to read stuff like this when you’re revising. It makes you stop and consider your own story and inspires you with new approaches to revisions.

Rework Book 2. Progress. This one will likely remain as progress. Although I got to a certain point in the book and felt an inclination to go back and strengthen a few things before continuing on. It’s that whole cut one string and see where it leads. Sometimes it takes you forward and then you realize it also leads backward, too. Ah, writing. We really have to love this to torture ourselves like we do.

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Write at least one short story. No new progress.

#2 Do further plotting for Codename Clemmings. No new progress.

I think once I have Book 2 reworked, I’m going to work on Codename Clemmings again. When I’m not thinking about Book 2, I sometimes think about other projects (so do we all). If I’m not feeling much inspired with Clemmings I may actually strike out on a brand new project, just for kicks. They say it revitalizes your writing to do something completely new. I found it did with Clemmings when I originally started it.

I would do it now, but I feel like Book 2 needs to reach a more solid state of improvement first.

Oh, and one more thing, Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA bloggers. I hope you get to eat lots of delicious food and enjoy the company of those you love!

Are most of your writing projects within the same genre? Have you branched out, even if just for practice? What do you do to keep your writing fresh and renewed?

This is a little late in coming, but better late than never. The view you have here is of the Grand Tetons from Jackson Lake Lodge during the Fall. I love this part of Wyoming more than anything else.

We were lucky enough later on in the day to see two moose wandering around out in the fields. The Jackson/Teton area is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in the world. I suppose after I’ve visited all of the world, I’ll report in again and tell you if I still think this is the same. 😉

THE GOALS

Read “The Fire in Fiction” and one fiction book.No New Progress. I really had anticipated making a lot more progress here, but without Row80 it would certainly be 0% instead of 5%. I’ll take whatever progress I can. I really just need to focus on reading instead of watching Korean dramas. 😛

Rework Book 2. Progress. Still making lots of progress here. The story is really taking on a life of its own. I make a plan with my outline, but sometimes in the midst of writing it goes in its own direction. I’ve uncovered things I didn’t think of in the early stages. That’s why I try to be adaptable to the way my story involves. I still start out with a plan, but I allow for side trips wherever or whenver

BONUS GOALS: # 1 Write at least one short story. No new progress.

#2 Do further plotting for Codename Clemmings. No new progress.

I will be happy with where I am at once I get more reading in. What is it with life and occupying time you once had to do all these things. Seriously, I had all the time in the world when I was in high school and a bit more than now in college. I guess that’s the way it rolls sometimes. But the story is getting done, and I’m still pleased with how it’s going. I know I’ll need my trusty beta readers to help me do the final sculpting, but I’m a lot happier with where it’s ended up now. Ah, editing. It can be a pain, but also a great joy.

Do you often feel like life gets in the way? How do you just press on? When you write, are you all panster or are you like me with a lot of plotting allowing for side trips? Or must it all be done with an outline first no matter what?